Ministry is Sown in Tears

[S] Psalm 126:5-6 --
    ⁵Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
    ⁶He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
         Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

[O] The word "ministry" tend to sound big because we think of a church, or large organizations like World Vision or Red Cross, but from today's passage my orientation of ministry simplified to "sowing in tears" where you pour out your heart into caring for others through tears.  Unfortunately, even though the content of what is being carried forth is "bag of seed" which means good news, it is being rejected and thus causes the carrier of this "seed" to sow in tears.  But not all is in vain because God promises us reaping with joyful shouting in the end.

[A] As I do God's ministry, I need to remember that it is inevitable to sow in tears.  This both implies the difficulty of participating in God's ministry as well as staying humble as I carry out the ministry because this is not about starting up a company to succeed in achieving goals & profits but submitting to God's call and staying faithful to the ultimate purpose regardless of the circumstances knowing that the "shouts of joy" will come in the end.

[P] Dear God, thank you for inviting me into Your ministry.  May I not be scared to "sow Your ministry with tears" as I face challenges and even when challenges seem minimal.  I will train myself to cry out for the people whom You put under my care and I will continue to pray for them.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.